Box with attached handle



March 25', 1958 G, STRUBLE 2,828,063

BOX WITH ATTACHED HANDLE Filed April 25 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TOR.

6a GLENN E. STRUBLE 55 BY M,MM

, ATTORNEYS March 25, 1958 G. E. STRUBLE 2,828,063

BOX WITH ATTACHED HANDLE I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 25, 1956 FIG-4 4o IN VEN TOR.

GLENN E. STRUBLE wwm1 fl ATTORNEYS BOX WITH ATTACHED HANDLE Glenn E. Struble, Hamilton, Ohio, assignor, by

assignments, to The Diamond Match Company, York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application April 25, 1956, Serial No. 580,505

6 Claims. (Cl. 229-52) mesne New This application relates to boxes, particularly to handle handle construction for garment boxes and the like which' folds flat upon the box blank for storage and which is easily extended to provide a carrying handle on the assembled box.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved handle construction for paperboard boxes and the like wherein a backing and reinforcing strip for one of the box panels includes handle portions with integral folding connections at opposite ends thereof to the remainder of the strip providing for extension of the handle portions through an aperture in the box panel in facing relation to each other and for flat folding of the handle portions within the box for storage and shipping purposes.

A further object of this invention is to provide such an improved handle construction wherein the handle portions include flaps for forming a finger receiving opening therethrough and for substantially covering the aperture in the box panel through which the handle portions extend.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description, the accompanying drawings and the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a box embodying the present invention; 7

Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan view of portions of the box blank to which the backing strip is applied;

Fig. 3 is a view in fiat form of the backing and rein- 2,828,063 Patented Mar. 25, 1953 panels having diagonal fold lines 15 providing for folding of the side and front panels onto the bottom 10 to collapse the assembled box for storage in the usual mannet. At the edge of bottom 10 opposite from panel 13 a rear 'wall panel 18 (Fig. 2) extends upwardly, being connected to bottom panel 10 along a fold line 19.

The lid of the box is arranged to fold over the bottom or main body section in telescoping relation therewith, and the lid thus includes a top panel 20 connected along a fold line 21 to rear wall panel 18, and lid side wall panels 22' and 23 extend from top panel 20 to embrace the side panels 11 and 12 when the lid is closed. The lid front panel 24 extends from the front edge of top panel 20 and includes flaps 25 secured to side panels 22 and 23, respectively, with diagonal fold lines 26 extending across flaps 25 and the ends of the side panels to provide for folding of panels 22, 23 and 24 flat upon the top panel 20.

Side panels 11 and 22, 12 and 23, are integrally connected by flaps 30 having V-shaped notches 32 therein, and diagonal fold lines 33 extending from the apex of notches 32 to the corners of the panels 10 and 20, respectively, provide for bellows folding of the flaps 30 as the lid is closed, and as shown in Fig. 1. The bottom front panel 13 is slit to provide tongues 35, the opposite sides of which are receivable within slots 36 in top front panel 24 to lock the lid in closed position. Also, a suitable notch 37 may be cut in the free edge of front panel 24 to facilitate grasping of the lid for opening thereof.

Referring to Fig. 2, panel 18 has a central longitudinally extending substantially rectangular aperture 40 therein, open at its opposite ends and having the central portion thereof normally covered by a flap 42 connected along fold line 43 to panel 18. A backing or reinforcing strip forcing strip incorporating the handle construction of the Fig. 5 is a section similar to Fig. 4 showing the handle portions in their extended carrying position;

Fig. 6 is another section similar to Fig. 5 through the center of the handle portions and showing an intermediate position during extension of the handle;

Fig. 7 is a section similar to Fig. 6 showing the handle portions in a fully extended and locked position; and

Fig. 8 is a partial perspective view of the outer surface of the box panel seen in Fig. 2 and showing the handle in its extended carrying position.

Referring to the drawings, which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a typical folding box construction of the type used to carry garments and the like is shown embodying the handle construction of this invention. The box includes a bottom or main body section having a bottom panel 10 and side panels 11 and I invention is extended by folding the outer flaps 70' in 50 is adhered to the surface of panel 18 interiorly of the box, with adhesive preferably applied to the stippled areas shown in Fig. 2. The corresponding central end portions 52 of strip 50 are cross-hatched in Fig. 3 to illustrate the pgrtions of the backing strip which are secured to panel 1 A pair of slits 54 extend transversely of strip 50, preferably parallel to each other, and with the maximum spacing between slits 54 being no greater than the length of aperture 40 in panel 18. These slits terminate short of the opposite sides of strip 50, and are intersected by longitudinally extending fold lines 55 and 56, spaced outwardly from the opposite sides of the central end portlons 52. A central longitudinal fold line 58 extends between slits 54, defining therewith complementary handle portions 60, 61, 62 and 63. Additional longitudinally extending fold lines 65 and 66 border on opposite sides of the central end portions 52 and define with the fold lines 55 and 56 connecting flaps 68, the purpose of which will presently be described.

The central end portions 52 may be substantially the same width as panel 18, as shown, and fold lines 65 and 66 are projected across the handle portions of the strip, separating handle portions 60 and 61, and 62 and 63, respectively. These fold lines thus provide for folding of the backing strip within the erected box without extending the handle portions to their carrying position, should such a feature be desired. The flap portions 76 at opposite sides of the strip, outwardly of fold lines 55 and 56, cooperate with the connecting flaps 68 to provide integral folding connections between the handle portions and the remainder of the strip, permitting the outer flap 70 to move inwardly toward the longitudinal center line of strip 50 and thus to extend the handle portions through aperture 40 outwardly of box panel 18.

Referring to Figs. 4, 5 and 6, the handle of the present wardly toward the center of aperture 40, with the inter- V mediate connecting flaps 68 being folded over upon adjacent portions of the central end portions 52 along fold lines 65 and F66, and- With-the router flaps "-70 folded iupon thelintermediate" flaps -68 'to the positionishown; in Fig;:5. The upper handle .portions 3-60 and 62 :are sthusrfolded into:facing relation with each' other along fold .;line.-58, and :the lower handle :portions 61 -:andafii: Yaieasimilarly folded' together. As :the handleportions pass wthrouglti aperturer40 :tflap I 42; is pushedi'torone side, as shown in Fig.6.: 1

.The lower handle; portions are :providedwith tan-aperture for receiving ithedingerssin "the extended carrying position, and suchan aperturelislformedby the-generally :Ue'shap'ed :slit :72 idefiriingfa covering flap {73' between the lower handle portions 63, connected to the 1 adjacent flap 70 along fold line -SS; This flap remains coplanar -with flap 70 adurin'g extension of -the handle, and thus projects across :the aperturew i-n the "interior of the carton, .as show-ninfigs. 6-and 7, tocover a substantial portion of the aperture from the interior. This folding of flap 73,results in--an-opening between the lowerhandl'e'rportions'oias thehandleis erected, and a locking 'flap 7 5 isprovided by slits 76 separating the flap -75 from theadjacent lower handle'portionsol and by a slit .77 connecting the ends of slits 76. After'the handle portions have been extendedthrough aperture 40 the flap. 42 is pressed back-across the central portion of aperture40 and at'the-same time flap 75 is folded through theopenin-g providedby fiap 73, and is folded around the opposite upperhandle portion 62 to'lock the handle port-ions together in the "extended position.

The presentinvention thus provides ahandle construcwhich is relatively simple and inexpensive to'rnanufacture, which is'easi-ly'extend'ed to its carryingposition, which is firmly secured to the box and is sturdy and resistant to break by reason of its double ply construe? demand which is readily adaptableto use with a wide variety of types and-sizes of boxes.

--While the form of article herein'described constitutes a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to this precise form of article, and that changes may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention which is de'fined in-the appended claims.

What-is claimed-is:

lrAnextendable and'retractable handle construction for paperboard boxes and the like "having a Wall panel with an aperture therein, comprising a backing strip having-central endportions securable to the interior surface of the wall panel at opposite ends of theaperture, connecting fiaps having integral connections with opposite sides .of said 'securable end portions, outer flaps extending length-wise "of said strip and 'having integral connections with' sides of said connecting flaps opposite said end -portions,'and handle portions integrally connected to said outer flaps and adapted to extend between said end portions across the aperture, said handle portions including a central longitudinal fold line separating said handle portions into substantially complementary sections providing for folding of said handle portions into facing relation with each other in an exten dable carrying position outwardlyof the box, said connecting. flaps providing for-movement of said outer flapstowar d the center of said strip to extend saidhandle portions.

-2.- In combination Witha box'having .a top-and a bot tom integrally connected through an end Wall panel thereof,- said panel having an "aperture therein or substantially greater width than "length, a backing strip having central end portions securedto theinterior vsurface oftsaid rwall :panel atopposi-te ends of said aperture, connecting flaps having 5 integral connections along "fold lines-with opposite sides of said secured end portions,

outer filaps :extendinglen'gthwise *ro'f said strip and having integral .connections .along.fold .lines with vsides of said connecting flaps opposite said secured end portions, and handle portions integrally connected to said outer flaps and extending between said secured end portion across said aperture, said handle portions including a central longitudinal fold line separating said handle portions into substantially complementary sections providing for folding of saidlha'nillelportions 'into facing relation with each other inanextended carryingposition outwardly of said aperture.

3. In a box having a wallzpanl with a substantially rectangular aperture therein, the combination of handle construction movable through said aperture between a flat folded positionwithin the box and'an extended carrying position outwardly ofthe box, comprising a backing strip for said wall panel including end portions secured to the interior surface of said Wall panel at opposite ends o f said'fiaperture, .saidlstrip havingslits therein spaced aparta: distance no=greater than th'e'length of 'sa-id aperture and extending transversely o-fizsaid' strip terminating short-of thesides thereof, said strip-having fold lines ex- 'tending lengthwise thereof and intersecting the ends of said slits, said strip-also havinga central longitudinal fold line between-said slits defininghandle portions on opposite sides thereof, and the ends of said strip having fold lines extending longitudinally thereof spaced' inwardly from :said full length fold lines and outwardly of the secured portions {thereof and defining therewith integral folding connections between said handle portions and saidsecured{end portionsproviding-for extensions of said handle lportions frorn'a flat toldedtposition within said box outwardly "through isaid aperture and substantially at rightlan'glesito.theremainderof said backing strip.

4.1111 3. box having a wvall panel with a substantially rectangular aperture therein the-combination of handle construction movable through 'said aperture between a flattolde'daposition within thebox and an extended-carryingzposition out-wardlyof th'efbox, comprising abacking strip 'Lhaving central end portions thereof secured to the interior surface of said Wall panel at opposite ends of said aperture, .said strip having a-pair-o-fslits therein spaced apart a distance no-greaterthan the lengthofsaid aperture and extending transversely of-said strip beneath opposite ends of said aperture and terminating short'of the si'des iofasaid strip, saidstrip including a central fold line extending longitudinally thereof between said slits and :defining therewith complementary handle portions, said strip alsoihaving a plurality of spaced longitudinally extending :foldalines some of which border said central end 'portionsand others'of which'intersect the opposite ends of said slits, and said spaced fold lines defining in- 'tegral 'rfoldin g' connections between said handle portions and :saidsecuredend port-ions providing for-extension of said handle portions outwardly through said aperture in facing. relation to each other and for folding of said handle portion flat within .said box.

5. In :a 'boxthaving :a wall panel with a substantially rectangular aperture :therein the combination of handle construction movable through said aperture between a fiatfolded positionw ithin said box and an extended carryingr,position upwardly of said box, comprising a backing strip of paperboardmaterial-having central end portions securedtotheinteriorsnrface of said Wall'panel at opposite ends of saidaperture, connecting flaps having integral connections along fold lines with opposite sides of said secured and portions outerflaps-extending lengthwise of said strip having integralconnections along fold lines with sides oi' said con-necting flaps'opposite, said' secured end portions,and handl'e'porti'ons integrally connected to said outer flaps-andcxtending between .said secured end,por-

'tiens'acrosssaid aperture, said'handle portions including a'centrallongitudinal'fold lineseparating said handle portions into substantially complementary sections providing for fielding-of said handle portions into facing relation with each other in an extended carrying position outwardly of said aperture, said connecting flaps providing for movement of said outer flaps toward the center of said strip to extend said handle portions.

6. In a box having a wall panel with a substantially rectangular aperture therein the combination of handle construction movable through said aperture between a flat folded position within said box and an extended carrying position upwardly of said box, comprising a backing strip of paperboard material having central end portions secured to the interior surface of said wall panel at opposite ends of said aperture, connecting flaps having integral connections along fold lines with opposite sides of said secured end portions, outer flaps extending lengthwise of said strip and having integral connections along fold lines with sides of said connecting flaps opposite said secured end portions, handle portions integrally connected to said outer flaps and extending between said secured end portions across said aperture, said handle portions including a central longitudinal fold line separating said handle portions into substantially complementary sections providing for folding of said handle portions into facing relation with each other in an extended carrying position outwardly of said aperture, said connecting flaps providing for movement of said outer flaps toward the center of said strip to extend said handle portions, said handle portions having slits therein defining a covering flap separated from said handle portions and integrally connected to. one of said outer flaps for extending across said aperture in the extended position of said handle, and said slits also defining a locking flap integrally connected to said handle portions and separated from said outer flaps for folding through the aperture in said handle portions provided by said covering flap to lock the handle portions in extended carrying position.

References Cited in the file of this patent FOREIGN PATENTS 507,958 Great Britain June 23, 1939 

